Fall Break: Trip to San Diego Part 1

Our kids were SO excited to head back to Legoland for Spring Break in October.  While most families love Disneyland, Legoland is our family favorite!  When given the choice, our kids continue to beg to return to Legoland.

Emma takes her first drive all by herself.  She'll be 16 way too soon for my liking!

We loved seeing all the different figures built from Legos throughout the park.

Devan attempts to save Spencer from the shark!

Boys put on a show on the pirate ship!

The whole park was decorated for Halloween.

Can you tell how much my boys LOVE Legos?

The kids loved this little free fall ride.  I think Ivan liked it as well.

Spencer hugs the Lego Captain.

The kids had a great time building and racing Lego cars.

Spencer shows his car masterpiece.

On Tuesday, we went to Sea Life Aquarium which is attached to Legoland.

  Emma loved looking in the bubbles at the fish.

The boys found another project to build.

We had a great time watching the shows and seeing all the fish and water life.

Estes 2nd Grade Mini Muster

So, I need to really play catch up on our family blog! October 6th, I was able to help volunteer at the 2nd Grade Mini Muster.  The fire department put on this great fire safety event each year for the 2nd graders in our district. 

Fire Fighter, Hyrum Duron, explains one of the activities to the kids.  Hyrum just happens to be the dad of one of my daughter's good friends.

Spencer escapes the Fire Safety Trailer.  

They put these great blindfold glasses on the kids and they had to follow the hose to the door.

Spencer and his best bud, Raden, had a great time.

My little fire fighter

I am so glad I was able to go to this activity with Spencer.  We had such a great time cheering on all the kids.

Important Election is approaching

 

This November's election is crucial and it is quite possible that conservative women will cast the deciding votes in many races.

That's  why I just joined with women across the nation who are taking a stand  by saying, "I'm a conservative and I will vote."  Concerned Women for  America started this effort to inform and equip women who want to stand  for faith and freedom when they go to the polls.

I encourage you to join me by going here to sign the petition.

We have some wonderful Conservative choices on the ballot this year in Arizona.  

I am voting for Jesse Kelly in the Congressional District 8 election on November 2nd.  When it comes to taking a stand on important issues that matter to me, I believe that he is the man for the job.

  I encourage you to look at where the different candidates stand on the border, the economy, health care, smaller government, national defense, and the constitution.  I believe that you will see what I saw.  Jesse Kelly needs to go clean Washington!

In June, I had the opportunity to listen to Jesse Kelly answer questions from people in my community.  I have been searching for a candidate who will defend the constitution, put a stop to all the out of control spending, and who believes in limited government and states rights.  I was so impressed at how well he knew the constitution.  He will definitely have my vote this coming primary. I think that if the entire country voted people like Jesse into Congress, hope could be restored to this great nation.


If you'd like more information, please visit:

www.voteJesseKelly.com

 
I am also voting for Jan Brewer.  She is doing an amazing job as governor and has earned her right to govern this great state!


 

Graham Glauser, one of our good friends, is also running for the Marana School Board.  He would be such a great asset on the board.

You may agree or disagree with me on candidates, and that is okay.  The important thing is that you do your homework on each candidate and issue and GO vote!  Voting earns you the right to complain.  :-)

 

I'm still alive- barely.

I have a hard time saying NO.  I think I have the YESitis disease. :-)  Last week was one of my most stressful yet.  I don't think I have felt that stressed since my college days.  I think for sanity sake I need to learn to say NO.  After all, sleep is a necessity and not a novelty.

This was my last week summarized:
1. Today: Lunches packed, kids to school, 2 stories filmed for KVOA that will air on October 1st and 29th.  Visit taught a dear friend (Best Part of my day).  Finished editing 101 Things to Do With Eggs.  Typed up the Rough draft of Minutes and agenda for the police commission (I serve as secretary). Kid's homework done.  Papa Murphy's took care of dinner tonight.  Then, Family Home Evening once Ivan got home.

2. Yesterday:  At church at 8:40 a.m. to set up my classroom, taught my Sunday School lesson.  I LOVE the people in my class! Got really sick (allergies exploded), slept for 5 hours, straightened the downstairs in preparation for cameraman coming on Monday, read my next lesson.

3. Saturday: Ivan had to work overtime, so the kids and I tackled cleaning the house and doing the chores by ourselves.  I worked on editing 101 Things To Do With Eggs.  Cleaned out my inbox. I've gone from 1423 unread messages to 84 unread messages.  Played catch up.  Attended the dinner and Women's Broadcast at the stake center.  Then, ran my coupon errands.


4.  Friday: Started day at 5:45 with a 6 a.m. walk.  Lunches packed, kids taken to school.  Posted deals on mysavvysavings.com, book inventory attempted, and shipped 2 book orders received. Kids picked up from school.  Friends of kids come over to play.  Put a years worth of girl scout patches on Liz's sash.  Took Liz to her Girl Scout Sleep over activity.  Went to dinner with Ivan and to buy a new door knob to replace the one that broke earlier this week.  Watched Ivan replace door knob before heading over after 10 p.m. to pick up Liz from party.


5.  Thursday:  Started day at 5:45 a.m. with walk.  Lunches packed, kids taken to school. Ordered Elizabeth 60 fabric covered headbands for her side headband business that she's starting.  Spent 4 hours working on a project for Groupon.  Got the editing done for the first 1/2 of 101 Things To Do With Eggs. Posted deals on mysavvysavings.com.  Homework, homework, homework.


6. Wednesday: Went to bed at 2 a.m. after cutting up all the veggies to freeze that I bought last week and making Strawberry Raspberry Jam. Still got up at 5:45 a.m. to walk, then swept, vacuumed the carpets and steamed the downstairs tile, before taking the kids to school.  Watched a good friend's baby, so she could go to the temple.  Took Liz to Activity Days.  Piano Lesson for Liz.  Attended Boy Scout Court of Honor where Devan received his 2nd and 1st class and 11 merit badges.


7. Tuesday:  Got up at 5:45 a.m. to walk.  Took kids to school and Emma to Margie's.  Got my hair cut and eyebrows waxed.  Ran all my coupon errand today.  Bought Lizzie the material she needed to make a large variety of headbands. Picked up kids from school.  Homework. The list goes on.


To tell you the truth, I don't know if I could have done one more thing last week.  I think I wore myself out.  So, where do I start cutting?  Any suggestions?

Please vote for Jesse Kelly for Congress

We are 14 days away from an important Primary Election.  I am supporting Jesse Kelly in the Congressional District 8 primary election.  When it comes to taking a stand on important issues that matter to me, I believe that he is the man for the job.

  I encourage you to look at where the different candidates stand on the border, the economy, health care, smaller government, national defense, and the constitution.  I believe that you will see what I saw.  Jesse Kelly needs to go clean Washington!

In June, I had the opportunity to listen to Jesse Kelly answer questions from people in my community.  I have been searching for a candidate who will defend the constitution, put a stop to all the out of control spending, and who believes in limited government and states rights.  I was so impressed at how well he knew the constitution.  He will definitely have my vote this coming primary. I think that if the entire country voted people like Jesse into Congress, hope could be restored to this great nation.

Here's a great video of him expressing where he stands on a variety of issues:



If you'd like more information, please visit:

www.voteJesseKelly.com

Make Enough of Me

Today I watched this video.  This is my life and my prayer.  Some days are tough.  So much to do and not enough time.  The Savior can make enough of me to go around.

My Clip on Good Things Utah

Today I made the Heavenly Coconut Delight on Good Things Utah. My grandma called this Lush. She would make it in several different flavors- chocolate, banana, pistachio, coconut, butterscotch, etc..

Here's the recipe:

Heavenly Coconut Delight- from 101 Things To Do With Pudding

1 cup flour
2 TBSP sugar
½ cup butter or margarine
½ cup chopped cashews or almonds
8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened
¼ cup sugar
2 TBSP milk
12 oz pkg frozen whipped topping
2 pkgs instant coconut cream pudding mix
3 cups milk
½ coconut, toasted

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

In a bowl, combine flour and 2 tablespoons sugar. Cut butter into flour mixture using a pastry blender. Add nuts and continue to work the dough with the pastry blender. Spread mixture in a 9 x 13-inch pan prepared with nonstick spray. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Allow crust to cool completely.

Using an electric mixer, combine cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, and 2 tablespoons milk. Fold in 1 cup whipped topping. Spread the cream mixture evenly over the crust.

In a separate bowl, whisk the dry pudding mix into 3 cups milk for about 1 minute, or until pudding begins to thicken. Spread pudding evenly over cream cheese mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 3-4 hours. Before serving, spread remaining whipped topping evenly over the top. Sprinkle toasted coconut over top. Store in refrigerator. Makes 15 servings.

VARIATION: Chocolate, banana, lemon and butterscotch pudding mixes can be substituted for the coconut cream pudding.